YMMV / Pikachu's Goodbye

• Harsher in Hindsight: The line involving the Pikachu cheering Ash on when he gets to the Pokemon League becomes this considering his... "spotty" attempts until Alola and then eventually the World Coronation Tournament, where Ash wins both Leagues and becomes not only the Alola Champion, but the World Champion, with Pikachu himself netting the win for Ash in the latter.
  • Becomes doubly so when the final episode of Aim To Be A Pokemon Master has Ash and Pikachu finally retire for good as the main protagonists of the entire series (even though they travel off to distant lands unknown). In hindsight making the final episodes of the entire series Ash's and Pikachu's Goodbye towards the fans.
• Heartwarming Moments: One of the biggest in the series. After attempting to leave Pikachu with its own kind, Ash finds that it wants to stay with him and the two are tearfully reunited. The triumphant music during the moment also helps.
• It Was His Sled: No, Pikachu and Ash don't part at the end of the episode.
• Like You Would Really Do It: Pikachu's prominence in the series, on marketing materials, and just in the franchise as a whole, even in 1998, begged scrutiny of the notion that he would leave the series.
  • This was, however, a realistic fear after the tragic events of four months prior. As it was a miracle enough the series wasn't cancelled entirely, there was a high chance they wouldn't be allowed to keep using electric attacks, thus retiring Pikachu by proxy. Thankfully, the only real change was Pikachu's attacks becoming far less visually intense.
  • Becomes a huge point of Irony many years later where the final episodes of the anime ultimately have Ash and Pikachu both retire as the protagonists (while still traveling to parts unknown), essentially retiring Pikachu (with Captain Pikachu from Pokémon Horizons: The Series taking his place).
• She Really Can Act:
  • This is one of Rica Matsumoto's saddest performances as Ash Ketchum. From Ash's moments of thinking that Pikachu would be better in the forest, to him shouting at Brock and Misty when they confront him about his decision, and when he tells Pikachu that he's leaving, all of which she delivers very well.
  • Also, Ash's dub voice actress Veronica Taylor. Her performance may not have had any outbursts like Ash's Japanese voice actress, but she still manages to sell the sadness of Ash's decision very well, particularly when Ash tells Pikachu he's leaving and when he does inner monologues about his decision.
    Ash: This is for the best... I guess.
• Signature Scene: Pikachu returning to Ash, and the emotional hug that follows, is the most-remembered part of the episode.
• Tear Jerker: Ash leaving Pikachu, believing it's what's best for his friend. He sobs uncontrollably as he literally runs away from the situation, and a montage of highlights from their time together plays, complete with an appropriately heart-wrenching song.
  The time has come,
  It's for the best, I know it.
  Who could have guessed that you and I -
  Somehow, someday, we'd have to say goodbye.

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